BRISK ACTIONS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 203, 29 July 1941, Page 5

BRISK ACTIONS

ON LIBYAN FRONT. AUSTRALIANS 7 COURAGE. (United Press Association —-Copyright) (Rec. 10 a.m.) RUGBY, July 28. A Cairo communique announces that tlic Australian patrol at Tobruk mentioned in yesterday’s communique as having captured and occupied strong points outside the British perimeter on 'Saturday remained in the positions and finally withdrew on Saturday night after inflicting further casualties on the enemy.

After dark on Saturday three strong enemy patrols approached our lines This half-hearted attempt at retaliatory raiding was driven off by riflefire, with no casualties to our troops. In the frontier area two strong enemy patrols of all arms circulated during yesterday afternoon in a southwesterly direction. After being engaged tlirougliout by our mobile troops, both columns were finally forced to withdraw;, A IST’R ALI AN’S DARING. The effect on the enemy of the harassing Imperial patrols is readily understandable when account is taken of such actions as that for which Private M. J. O’Connell, of the Australian Military Forces, lias just won the Military Modal. The official account says that Private O’Connell was a member of a party which carried out a successful raid against enemy forces west of Tobruk on April 22. He took part in Liu- capture of the first enemy posts and then dashed ahead oil his own. He threw a Mil's bomb which killed several of the enemy, and lie captured an officer and seven other ranks. During the withdrawal of the patrol he escorted the prisoners back to the defence perimeter, a distance of 3000 yards, in face of intense artillery, mortar and machine-gun fire. —Official Wireless.